downright wickedness. Besides, Kwaiba is no man to trifle with."
Iemon was a little put out and alarmed at the directness of Kondo[u]'s
reference. "Be sure there is nothing in such talk. A slight service,
rendered in earlier days, makes O'Hana San more cordial to one otherwise
a stranger. The excess shown is perhaps to be discouraged. But Ito[u]
Dono is good company and has good wine; and besides really is a good
_go_ player. It would be loss to shun his house."

Kondo[u] noted a first symptom on their arrival. He spoke sharply to
the maid--"Middle age in company with youth plainly finds a poor
reception. Is that the master's order? The clogs of Tamiya are not the
only ones. Is Rokuro[u]bei to shift for himself?" The girl, all
confusion, made profuse apology as she hastened to repair the neglect.
Kondo[u] was easily mollified. "Bah! No wonder. Bring Tamiya near a
woman, and all is confusion.... But Ito[u] Dono?"--"This way, honoured
Sirs: the Danna awaits the guests." They entered the sitting room, to
find Kwaiba in a high state of anger and sulks. For some reason, error
in transmission or date or other ambiguity, not a man of the guests had
appeared. "The supper prepared is next to useless. We four can do but
little in its dispatch. Not so with the wine; let every man do double
duty here." He hustled around and gave his orders with some excitement;
more than cordial with the guests who had not failed him. There was
present one Kibei. Iemon had noted with curiosity his first appearance
on this ground. What effect was this factor going to have on O'Hana's
position in the household. He had been reassured on the physical point.
Kibei was exceedingly ugly, a regular mask, and O'Hana was a woman to
make much of physical beauty, as well as strength and ruggedness. He was
a younger son of Inagaki Sho[u]gen, a _hatamoto_ with a _yashiki_ in
Honjo[u] and an income of three thousand _koku_.[22] It was almost
certain that Kwaiba would adopt Kibei. The negotiations had been long
continued, and there was some hitch in the matter that Iemon could not
make out. What he did realize was Kibei's hostility to himself. A noted
fencer, making some sort of a living as teacher of the art, he was the
last man with whom Iemon had any desire for a quarrel. Iemon was a
coward, and the cold eye of Kibei sent a chill down his spine. Himself,
he was always excessively polite in their intercourse.

Limited as to number the party tried to make up for